LINA Systems
With a dedicated Network DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Master Clock, Lina is the first dCS system purpose-built for headphone listening. Designed to drive a vast range of headphones, and deliver spectacular sound, it offers the ultimate sonic escape for music and headfi connoisseurs.
Enjoy the full Lina experience with a Network Streaming DAC, Class AB Headphone Amplifier and Grade 1 Master Clock.
- Designed and hand-assembled in the United Kingdom
- Purpose built for headphone playback
- Engineered for the purest expression and the finest possible sound
“Lina is an exciting new step in a journey that began over 30 years ago. At dCS, we’ve always strived to create products that bring people closer to the music and artists they love. Inspired by the rise of headphone listening, and the headfi community’s tremendous passion and enthusiasm, we have developed our first product range designed specifically for the dedicated headphone listener - a product that we believe sets a new standard for headphone playback. After over two years of intensive development and user testing, we’re delighted to be launching dCS Lina. It is our ambition to partner with the world’s finest headfi retailers to bring Lina to headphone listeners around the world, and we look forward to welcoming you to our select community of approved Lina stockists.”
– David Steven, Managing Director, dCS
CREATING PIONEERING AUDIOPRODUCTS SINCE 1987
We’ve been shaping the future of digital audio for over 30 years, developing unique products and technologies that have revolutionized music recording and playback.
Founded in 1987, we started out developing digital converters for aviation and aerospace companies, before shifting our focus to digital audio. Over the past 35 years, we have developed a succession of pioneering products and proprietary technologies for music lovers and recording professionals – from the first ever high resolution DACs and ADCs, to the multi-award winning dCS Bartok Headphone DAC.
Our products are renowned for their outstanding technical performance, exquisite craftsmanship and profound musicality. Through continuous innovation, and an obsessive attention to detail, we create products that uncover the true depth and essence of recorded sound, and bring people closer to the music and the artists they love.
A BOLD VISION
Lina began with a desire to create the definitive system for headphone playback: a system that reveals the full potential of your chosen headphones, plus the full breadth of detail, artistry and emotion in your music. Drawing on our extensive experience of developing pioneering audio products and technologies, including the multi award-winning dCS Vivaldi, Rossini and Bartók Headphone DAC, we set out to engineer a new product series that embodies our singular approach to sound reproduction, while reflecting the unique needs and demands of headphone listeners.
ROOTED IN HERITAGE
Lina is a product made possible through three decades of relentless innovation - a tireless pursuit to advance the standard of sound reproduction, and bring people closer to the music they love. Informed by 35 years of continuous development, it combines state-of-the-art hardware and software with a technical lineage that can be traced back to the advent of digital audio, and the creation of the world’s first ever high-resolution digital converters.
A CUSTODIAN OF SOUND
Offering technical precision, transparency and musicality in equal measure, Lina reproduces each aspect of a recording, from the subtlest of sonic details, to the sense of rhythm, movement and harmonic flow, with absolute integrity. Whatever your chosen track, it delivers a performance that feels vividly detailed, effortlessly natural and emotionally compelling. Always faithful to your music, it brings a new level of realism and purity to headphone playback.
HIGH PERFORMANCE, SMALL FOOTPRINT
Lina uses state of the art circuitry, electronics and digital processing to deliver a huge range of features in a compact and elegant format. Its unique flexible circuit board allows us to provide all of the functions you’d expect from a dCS system in a much smaller footprint, without compromising on sound or performance. Our smallest product series yet, it is designed for use in a wide range of environments, from shared offices to home studios, bedrooms and smaller living spaces.
TAILOR MADE
Every element of Lina’s design - from its touch screen UI to its tactile painted coating, understated aesthetic, and slim line, modular form - has been carefully considered and developed with headphone listeners in mind. This ‘purpose built’ ethos extends not just to external features, but internal circuitry, components and software. Unique in its design, sound and capabilities, it combines our renowned playback technologies with a wealth of innovations developed exclusively for the headfi community.
DESIGNED FOR YOU
Lina provides the freedom to listen however you choose, without compromise. Together, its Network Streaming DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Master Clock provide a complete digital audio system that confidently handles each aspect of the playback process. With its wide range of inputs and outputs, powerful streaming platform, and flexible settings, it delivers a stunning experience, whatever your listening preferences, equipment or musical tastes.
KEY FEATURES
- Solid state Headphone Amplifier ensures optimal performance with a vast range of headphones, from IEMs through to reference-level over ears.
- Lina Master Clock delivers precise and stable reference signal, for enhanced sound quality when streaming and listening via USB.
- dCS Ring DAC™ and Digital Processing Platform guarantee exceptional sound, whatever your chosen source, genre or audio format
- Modular three stack design allows you to configure your system to suit your space, arranging units vertically or side by side.
- Network DAC supports streaming via Roon, Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz, TIDAL, Internet Radio and Apple AirPlay.
- Flexible, FPGA-based architecture ensures long product lifespan, with new features and enhancements delivered via simple software updates.
LINA NETWORK DAC
The heart of your Lina system, our powerful network streaming DAC delivers extraordinary sound from any digital sourceSystemNETWORK DACMASTER CLOCKHEAPHONE AMPLIFIER
Enjoy the full Lina experience with a Network Streaming DAC, Class AB Headphone Amplifier and Grade 1 Master Clock.
- Compatible with all digital audio formats;
- Supports hi-res streaming from Roon, TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, Deezer, AirPlay & more;
- Features our renowned dCS Ring DAC TM and Digital Processing Platform.
121.5mm (H) x 220mm (W) x 339mm (D) 7.4kg
Digital Inputs
Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array
1 x stereo pair 3 pin balanced XLR
1 x stereo pair unbalanced RCA
FrequencyResponse (set to filter 1)
• Fs = 44.1 or 48kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz
• Fs = 88.2 or 96kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >38kHz
• Fs = 176.4 or 192kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >67kHz
• Fs = 352.8 or 384kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz
• DSD64 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >90kHz
• DSD128 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz
Better than –115dB0, 20Hz-20kHz
Residual Noise (6v output setting)
• 16-bit data: Better than –96dB0, 20Hz-20kHz unweighted
• 24-bit data: Better than –113dB0, 20Hz-20kHz unweighted
Supports the following platforms and services:
• UPnP
• Qobuz
• Deezer
• Tidal
• Internet Radio
• Spotify
• Apple AirPlay 2 (support at 44.1 or 48kS/s)
• RoonReady
Sample frequencies and formats
Supports the following audio formats
and sample rates:
• 44.1-384kHz
• DSD 64, 128
• Native DSD + DoP (input dependent)
• FLAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA
LINA MASTER CLOCK
Our Grade 1 Master Clock uses dual crystal oscillators to deliver a precise and stable clocking reference. Used as part of a complete Lina system, it enhances all aspects of sound for an even more immersive listening experience:
- Allows the Lina Network DAC to be locked to a master reference signal for enhanced audio performance;
- Minimizes jitter and irregularities that can cause distortion.
121.5mm (H) x 220mm (W) x 339mm (D) / 7kg
Clock Accuracy
Better than +/-1 ppm when shipped over an ambient temperature range of +5°C to +45°C
Typically 10 minutes to rated accuracy
Word Clock Outputs
• 2 x independently buffered TTL-compatible output on 75Ω BNC connectors
• Output 1: fixed at 44.1kHz
• Output 2: fixed at 48kHz
LINA HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
Our powerful solid state amplifier is designed to drive even the most demanding headphones to their full potential:
- Drives a vast range of headphones, including IEMs and planars
- Complements virtually any headfi setup
- Unique design offers exceptional sonic and measured performance
121.5mm (H) x 220mm (W) x 356mm (D) / 7.5kg
Analogue Inputs
• 1 x stereo pair unbalanced RCA, input impedance 48kΩ
• 1 x stereo pair unbuffered balanced XLR, input impedance 16kΩ
• 1 x stereo pair buffered balanced XLR, input impedance 96kΩ
• 1 x dual 3-pin balanced XLR, right and left channel
• 1 x single 4-pin balanced XLR
• 1 x single 1⁄4” (6.35mm) headphone jack
THD+N
<0.005% @ 1kHz 6V rms balanced output into 30Ω (80kHz bandwidth)
110dB 20Hz-20kHz A-weighted
(referenced to 6V rms balanced input and output)
Frequency Response
1Hz-100kHz Better than +0/-3dB
Kindly note that slight visual variations may occur in our products, reflecting the unique craftsmanship behind each item.